Commercial Motor articles from July 2006

Commercial Motor archives from July 2006

Health Q&A.
July 6, 2006... More questions, courtesy of the British Lung Foundation and Men's Health Forum Q Is there any danger to my lungs from cooking on a barbecue? A Generally there are no risks to lungs from a barbecue as the cooking is...

SCR - claims and counter-claims.(selective catalytic reduction, exhaust gas recirculation)
July 6, 2006... AS THE WAR of words over EGR vs SCR gathers pace, we at Scania are becoming increasingly concerned by some of the literature seeking to promote SCR as the better solution. In particular, a number of the claims being made are at best misleading...

volvo sees the lights Two new trucks, a host of ownership schemes and enhanced aftersales service all herald the return of Volvo Trucks to the small time. Kevin Swallow finds out more in Sweden.
July 6, 2006... If confirmation were needed of why the Volvo Group bought Renault Trucks it emerged out of the dry ice at Nya Berget, an underground nuclear bunker on the outskirts of Gothenburg. The FL and newly created FE will cover the market between 12...

Relay waits to enter the race.
July 6, 2006... Citron's next-generation Relay is due to hit the market towards the end of the year. But how will it differ from its Sevel stablemates? If you're having a deje vu moment, don't worry - you've already read an introduction to the next...

The envy of many.
July 6, 2006... Road transport's regulatory system receives varied criticism - but how much of it is fair? In the first of two parts we ask: is our system good enough? When Kenneth Thomas stole a batch of televisions and a load of tuna from one of his...

Penalty kicks.(traffic regulations in Ireland, Road Traffic Bill 2006 )
July 6, 2006... The Irish are closing down the game for rogue players and making it easier to seize vehicles. Ann Marie Foley reports. Penalty points or disqualification for striking a bridge, greater powers to seize vehicles and a ban on the use of mobile...

Excess baggage.
July 6, 2006... One month on and the introduction of digital tachographs is raising as many questions as answers. Patric Cunnane reports from a recent operators' seminar. The whole industry knows digital tachographs were launched on 1 May, but not...

EVENTS.(Brief article)(Calendar)
July 6, 2006... GB Tachopak Digital tachos for fleet managers 18 July Northampton Contact: 01472 210102 www.tachopak.co.uk EP Training Services Digital tachographs - managers 27 July Leatherhead Digital tachographs - drivers 15 July Leatherhead Contact:...

It's a risky business.
July 6, 2006... 'Risk assessment' may sound like more red tape, but failure to comply with regulations can result in unlimited fines. Roy Tozer reports. Businesses are obliged to carry out risk assessments under the Management of Health and Safety at Work...

Rough rider.
July 6, 2006... We've already tested the double-cab version of Nissan's Navara, but does the self-proclaimed 'King Cab' justify itself as a serious work tool? While the combination of double cab and load area has proved a winner in the pickup market due...

EXCESS ALL AREAS.
July 6, 2006... Insurance premiums are an unpleasant fact of business life, but can increasing your excess ease the pain? David Harris finds out more. Insurance is a legal necessity for hauliers, and one that takes a big chunk out of the bank account....

Three great deals on 6x2s.
July 6, 2006... Manufacturers are finding innovative ways to remarket the three-year-old 6x2 fleet tractor sector. Here are some of the packages on offer. If you are after a competitive deal on a 36-month-old truck, you don't have to look too far. At some...

Damage limitation.(effect of bad fitments' of modified vans on residual values)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... DIY work and poorly built retrofit equipment on panel vans will harm residuals when the vehicles are sold on, warns the Fleet Auction Group. If operators are to maximise residuals, when disposing of panel vans they need to make sure that...

Peace breaks out at Asda over union recognition.
July 6, 2006... The first two depots could gain a collective bargaining agreement within three months, if workers vote for it. Bridget Carter reports. An 11th-hour deal paving the way for collective bargaining at Asda depots halted last week's scheduled...

Date is set for final closure of Truckworld.
July 6, 2006... Truckworld, the popular truck park in West Thurrock, Essex, will close for the last time on the morning of 28 July so that the land can be redeveloped for warehousing. The site is used by hundreds of LGV drivers every day because of its...

EC sends warning to France and Spain over 'discriminatory' toll discounts.(European Commissions legal action on France and Spain to slash down discount rates of toll)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Legal action by the European Commission could force the French and Spanish governments to slash motorway toll reductions for frequent road users. The EC has sent wboth governments final warning letters saying it may take them to the...

Volvo engines for Dennis a.
July 6, 2006... Leading refuse TRUCK manufacturer Dennis Eagle is switching engine suppliers from Cummins to Volvo to meet the Euro-4 emissions standard. Dennis Eagle will be offering customers three variants of Volvo's latest D7E 7-litre...

More cash for Best Practice.(Freight Best Practice programme)(government plans to grant money to best practicing freight operator)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... The Government plans to divert the money it has saved by dumping grant schemes for low-carbon vehicles into the Freight Best Practice programme. Minister of State for Transport Stephen Ladyman has told the House of Commons that the grant...

Gipping creditors are warned of a 'huge shortfall'.
July 6, 2006... ACCOUNTANTS HANDLING the administration of Gipping Container Services say it racked up debts of [pounds sterling]1m. The Felixstowe-based company went into administration on 25 May; insolvency practitioners at Vantis have been sifting through...

Hargreaves AIMs for [pounds sterling]6.6m profit.(Hargreaves Services expected to record high turnover)(Alternative Investment Market)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Hargreaves Services, the Durham-based haulier that floated on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) last year, has assured its investors that it is on course to make an annual pre-tax profit of more than [pounds sterling]6m. The company...

Top businesswoman is an FTA vice-president.
July 6, 2006... The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has appointed Lane Group managing director Rebecca Jenkins as one of two new vice-presidents to support president John Russell. Jenkins has been a member of the FTA's National Executive Board since...

JCB launches a go-anywhere truck for the military.
July 6, 2006... Renowned site vehicle manufacturer JCB - for years the bane of agricultural hauliers with its on/off-road Fastrac range - has ventured into the truck market. The firm has launched its High Mobility Utility Vehicle (HMUV), an on/off-road...

60-second interview.
July 6, 2006... Steve Durrant MD, Mercedes-Benz CharterWay What got you started in transport? I didn't pay enough attention at school! What do you love/hate about it? Everything and nothing. What's your poison? ...

Ban for operator whose drivers falsified charts.(D Jones Haulage's O-license cancelled)
July 6, 2006... His O-licence was "obtained by improper means" and his transport manager was in prison. A LIVERPOOL OPERATOR who paid his drivers in cash while they were claiming benefits has lost his licence and been disqualified from holding or...

Co-op drivers reach deal.(Transport and General Workers' Union)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... More than 1,200 Co-op drivers have lost a fight to retain final-salary pensions - but their union says that an important concession has been won in exchange. The replacement pension scheme, which is based on career-average earnings,...

Credit where it's due.
July 6, 2006... Factoring is said to offer hassle-free solutions to hauliers' cash-flow problems, but how effective is it in practice? Andy Moore speaks to four factors to see if their services can make money talk rather than squawk. Imagine running a...

Death crash driver jailed for two and a half years.
July 6, 2006... A truck driver who ploughed into the back of stationary traffic and killed a mother of two has been jailed for two and a half years for causing death by dangerous driving. Leslie Davidson initially told police that he didn't see signs...

Don't ignore the signs.(Sat Nav systems also a hinderance to road safety)(Letter to the editor)
July 6, 2006... SAT-NAV MAY be to blame for increasing instances of dangerous driving as drivers key in postcodes or watch screens rather than the road while driving - but to blame it for getting wedged is a bit unfair (CM 22 June). True, sat-nav may not...

Driver dies while handling carcasses.(The Health & Safety Executive for Northern Ireland to investigate the death of a truck driver)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... The Health & Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) is investigating an accident in which a truck driver died as he was unloading animal carcasses at a rendering plant. The fatality happened at Glenfarm Holdings in Glenavy, County...

Learn proper maintenance.(Haynes to offer health manuals)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... As part of our Commercial Motor Health Challenge we've teamed up with publisher Haynes to offer 20 lucky readers copies of Haynes' outstanding health manuals, written by Men's Health Forum president Dr Ian Banks. The books look at the human...

No new licence for television thief.
July 6, 2006... A DRIVER JAILED for stealing goods from one of his employer's customers has lost his bid for the return of his LGV licence. As well as serving 15 months of a three-year prison sentence for theft, Kenneth Thomas, of Speke, Liverpool, had...

RISK AVERSE.
July 6, 2006... Only a handful of insurance companies cover road transport, suggesting that most view the sector as too risky to be involved in. Guy Sheppard examines how operators can make themselves more attractive to insurers. According to the...

Repute saved by director's resignation.(S & L Transport Services' director Stephen Henderson )(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... A woman told an Edinburgh disciplinary inquiry that she was "extremely angry" with her brother - a fellow director - for risking the company's licence by driving while he was disqualified and uninsured. However, the subsequent resignation...

Scaffolder is fined [pounds sterling]3,000 after telling court 'incredible story'.(a scaffolder fined twice for his offence by Leyland magistrates)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Leyland magistrates who fined a scaffolder [pounds sterling]3,000 for using a vehicle twice within a month without an O-licence told him his was an "incredible story". Shaun Reeve, trading as Sands Scaffolding of Leyland, Lancs, admitted the...

TC 'minded to revoke licence' but waits for all the evidence.(traffic commissioner David Dixon, drivers' O-licence )(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... An operator's O-licence hangs in the balance while the Traffic Commissioner awaits a further report from a vehicle examiner to assess the firm's maintenance regime. West Bromwich-based Mohammed Yaqoob has been warned he could still lose...

Tele for the masses.(Teleroute's Adrian Samuel's opinions over UK's freight-exchange market )
July 6, 2006... Teleroute's acting UK manager has spent most of his working life abroad. He tells Chris Tindall why it is that the freight-exchange market in this country still hasn't been fully exploited. Adrian Samuel hasn't lived in England for 19...

Tesco investigates shop steward's suspension.
July 6, 2006... Tesco has launched an investigation into the suspension of a shop steward at its Manchester depot amid claims of worker exploitation. CM revealed last week (CM 29 June) that T&G shop steward Adam Gietkowski, employed by agency Driving Edge,...

The number's up for US.
July 6, 2006... I was sorry to read in a news item about the shortcomings of sat-nav for large vehicles (CM 22 June) a reference to the truck involved as an '18-wheeler'. There are enough Americanisms polluting the English language without resorting to US...

WE NEED JUSTICE NOT REVENGE.
July 6, 2006... Ideally justice is free of emotion. But it is extremely difficult to make meaningful judgements on the convictions of drivers involved in fatal traffic accidents, because we are so emotionally engaged by the consequences. An LGV driver was...

Oil companies consider T&G proposal on driver pensions.
July 6, 2006... The T&G's long-running campaign to protect oil tanker drivers pensions will come to ahead in the coming months. Guy Sheppard reports. THE Oil distribution companies have been set a September deadline to demonstrate their commitment to...

Who's making what?(trucking companies profits)
July 6, 2006... Profits at Cardiff-based transport firm Rhys Davies fell in the year to 31 August 2005, despite a [pounds sterling]2m rise in turnover. Pre-tax profits were down 68% from [pounds sterling]496,486 to [pounds sterling]157,044 while...

You're free to go - as soon as you've paid this [pounds sterling]2.7m fine...
July 6, 2006... A British truck driver finally cleared of drug smuggling by the French courts has now been fined for another offence. David Harris reports. The French High Court has finally cleared Leeds-based driver Paul Watson of all charges of...

S&S picks rear steer for fleet revamp.(S and S Distribution purchases new vehicles)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Prominent Kent haulage firm S&S Distribution has just completed an [pounds sterling]800,000 overhaul of its fleet and livery. The Tonbridge-based haulier will take delivery of a Daf 75CF 6x2 rigid in the coming weeks, the last of a batch of...

Scottish report backs night time deliveries.(plans to use bus lanes to reduce traffic congestion)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Scotland's truck operators have received unexpected support in the form of a long-awaited government report. Chris Tindall reports. An inquiry into Scottish freight transport has recommended investigating the use of bus lanes for trucks in...

Stobart lawyer asks TC to drop public inquiry.(Eddie Stobart Ltd.)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... The lawyer defending Eddie Stobart against allegations of misinterpreting the law on weekly rest says the consequences of a public inquiry and the resulting publicity are "very serious". The haulage company was called to a public inquiry...

Unions back controls on foreign drivers.(two road transport unions concerned on foreign drivers flouring UK laws)(United Road Transport Union)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Two road transport unions have backed calls by both of the industry's leading trade associations to force foreign operators to provide detailed information to the UK enforcement authorities. The Transport and General Workers Union (T&G) and...

Pollock (Scotrans) customer in receivership.
July 6, 2006... A Scottish haulage firm is bracing itself for bad news after a major customer was placed into receivership. Musselbrugh-based Pollock (Scotrans) has been working for the papermaking division of paper and packaging firm Smith Anderson,...

Lack of written terms nets driver extra compensation.(double compensation for a Walsall truck driver due to lack of firms written terms and conditions)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... A Walsall truck driver has had his compensation for unpaid holiday pay unexpectedly doubled because of a change in Employment Tribunal regulations. A Birmingham Employment Tribunal had already awarded Driver David Hewitt a total of [pounds...

Massey Wilcox buys new Axor for its pallet distribution operation.
July 6, 2006... A West Country Pall-Ex member has unveiled its latest acquisition which will work on its pallet-distribution operation. Chilcompton-based Massey Wilcox showed off the Mercedes Axor on the Mercedes stand at last weekend's Truckfest South...

Union calls on HSE to investigate crashes.
July 6, 2006... The T&G wants a health and safety clampdown to eradicate bad management. Guy Sheppard reports. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is being urged to investigate road accidents involving trucks to highlight cases where bad management by...

Green light for jam busting in Glasgow.(motorway extension approved)(Brief article)
July 6, 2006... Glasgow's congestion will be eased by an M74 extension - after a [pounds sterling]20m delay. Bridget Carter reports. Scottish operators are hoping to slash hours off the travelling time through Glasgow after learning that the M74 extension...

The feel-good factor?
July 6, 2006... The latest CM/Michelin survey reveals that while factoring can help a company's cash flow, many operators are still wary of using such a service. At a glance - the key findings Only 9% of those who took part in our survey used...

British Sugar decision leaves hauliers with sour taste.
July 13, 2006... Sugar-beet hauliers may have to swallow a bitter pill as British Sugar announces the closure of two factories. Guy Sheppard reports. DOZENS OF HAULIERS in Shropshire and Yorkshire face cutbacks, or even closure, following a decision by...

Pollock (Scotrans) closes Cheshire depot.(Brief article)
July 13, 2006... SCOTTISH HAULAGE firm Pollock (Scotrans) says the closure of its Cheshire depot will help turn around its financial fortunes. According to the company's latest set of accounts for the year ending 3 September 2005, the Sandbach operation was...

Fresh warnings over truck-theft hot spot.(Brief article)
July 13, 2006... Drivers travelling through the Black Country are being told to look out for thieves. Guy Sheppard reports. A SPATE OF truck thefts in the West Midlands has prompted police to issue a fresh alert about driving through the region....

ZF unveils 'smart' steering and latest heavy truck IFS.(ZF Friedrichshafen AG launches independent front-suspension system)
July 13, 2006... Brian Weatherley was present at ZF's pre-Hanover innovations seminar in Germany last week, and he liked what he saw. ELECTRO-HYDRAULIC steering systems that automatically compensate for side winds and ruts in the road, a lower-maintenance...

East gets the least.
July 13, 2006... Agency workers from Eastern Europe are reportedly being exploited in the UK logistics sector. The Transport and General Workers Union tells Bridget Carter what it is doing to tackle the problem. Senior organiser for the Transport and...

Sales enter a period of calm.(trucks)
July 13, 2006... The surge in CV registrations caused by digitachs is over - but with the Euro-4 deadline fast approaching, how long will the stability last? INSIDERS' PERSPECTIVES "CV registrations are stabilising," says Christopher Macgowan, SMMT...

Maritime marches on.
July 13, 2006... Felixstowe-based Maritime Transport has grown massively over the last five years - but, as managing director John Williams explains, some lessons have been learned the hard way. Louise Cole reports. John Williams grew up in transport. His...

Who will guard the guardians?(traffic commissioners)
July 13, 2006... The Traffic Commissioners hold your fate in their hands - but who, if anyone, controls them? Dominic Perry investigates. When we started this examination of the regulatory system (CM 6 July) we were confronted with all manner of...

Rules of engagement.
July 13, 2006... Operators should not carry goods without first agreeing conditions of carriage with the customer. Transport lawyer Jonathan Lawton explains why rules are important. In the same way that games need rules, so does every commercial...

Job fears as 3663 loses MoD contract.(food distribution to cut jobs, Ministry of Defence)(Brief article)
July 13, 2006... DRIVERS AT food distribution firm 3663 are waiting to hear if they will keep their jobs after the Oxon-based firm lost a [pounds sterling]300m contract with the Ministry of Defence. It is understood that 80 staff may be made redundant and a...

Brought to justice.(driver convicted of fraud and driving using stolen licence)
July 13, 2006... A driver who operated illegally for 27 years and used a stolen licence is now behind bars. Patric Cunnane meets the team that nailed him. The Metropolitan Police Commercial Vehicle Unit in South London is like the cat that got the cream....

EVENTS.
July 13, 2006... Road Haulage Association Manual handling 18 July Oxford O-licence compliance 19 July Heathrow Digital tachographs 20 July Enfield Contact: 01733 261131 GB Tachopak Digital tachos for fleet managers 18 July Northampton Contact: 01472...

Living life to the full.(Scania AB offers used trucks)
July 13, 2006... Most dealers like to move high-mileage tractors abroad but Scania believes there's life in the old dogs yet. Steve Banner reports. Scania is making low-rate finance packages available through its dealers on high-mileage, ex-contract,...

RHA asked to help in insurance claim.(Darren Clark sues Axa Insurance )(Brief article)
July 13, 2006... AN OPERATOR WHO lost his business because his insurance company refused to pay when his trailer was stolen has asked a trade association to intervene. Darren Clark claims he is owed more than [pounds sterling]100,000 following the sale of...

Firm fined for 'serious' forklift accident.
July 13, 2006... A WELSH HAULIER has been fined [pounds sterling]6,000 with [pounds sterling]5,000 costs after a truck driver was run over by a forklift in its yard. Ammanford operator TD Williams (Brynamman) pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the safety...

Iceland driver strike looms.
July 13, 2006... STRIKE ACTION among 120 drivers working for frozen food retailer Iceland looks increasingly likely with the T&G union saying the supermarket has rejected its proposals and appears determined to close its Deeside, North Wales, depot. A T&G...

Gist speculation still rumbles on.
July 13, 2006... SUPPLY CHAIN operator Gist made a relatively healthy [pounds sterling]29.5m profit on a [pounds sterling]316m turnover last year, but its senior directors remain tight-lipped over whether the company is about to be sold. The past six...

Turnover rises by [pounds sterling]5m at Gregory as profits fall.(Gregory Distribution )(Brief article)
July 13, 2006... It has been a strong year for Gregory Distribution but the chief executive warns that "margins are continuing to tighten". David Harris reports. DEVON TRANSPORT group Gregory Distribution boosted its turnover by [pounds sterling]5m to more...

Iveco is Key purchase.
July 13, 2006... CATERING SUPPLY firm Key Catering is taking on 14 new Iveco vehicles, marking the start of the firm's switch to the Italian brand. The first part of the order comprises 13 Daily vans and a Stralis 6x2 tractor unit, but the firm will...

Vosa claims that trade-plate ruling was a 'rogue decision'.(United Kingdom's Vehicle and Operator Services Agency)(Brief article)
July 13, 2006... VOSA SAYS IT might not appeal against a judge's ruling that truck dealers don't need an O-licence to pull semi-trailers to test stations, because it was a "one-off rogue decision". The licensing and enforcement agency has been dismissive of...

New MoD order for MAN.(United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence contracts Man Group PLC)(Brief article)
July 13, 2006... ALTHOUGH MAN has yet to deliver the first of 5,200 military vehicles ordered by the MoD in March 2005, the two parties have reached agreement on the option of another 2,077. The extra trucks, mostly 4x4s but also including some 8x8s, are...

New V8 sighted in Germany.
July 13, 2006... THE FIRST FRUITS of the long-awaited joint MAN/Liebherr 'big' vee engine project were spotted by CM at an industry event in Germany last week in an 85-tonne mobile crane. However, MAN says it will be some time before the new V8 will appear...

THE TRANSPORT MANAGER.
July 13, 2006... Mark Parsons joined Parker Transport seven years ago, driving vans and operating forklifts. Today, he is transport manager and a CPC holder. "I deal with all the aggravation, and try to keep everybody happy," he says. Effective planning is...

Chart fiddler flees law for second time.(haulier faces fraud charges)(Brief article)
July 13, 2006... A former HAULIER facing charges of falsifying tachograph records has skipped bail for a second time and gone on the run. Arthur McCann of Widnes was arrested and kept in a cell overnight in March after fleeing to Ireland in November 2004...

China clay cutbacks hit West Country.(Imerys S.A.'s reorganization's impact on the industry)(Brief article)
July 13, 2006... HAULIERS IN Devon and Cornwall face significant cutbacks in demand from the china clay industry following a rationalisation programme by its main operator. French-owned Imerys blames soaring energy costs for the reorganisation, which will...

In search of the professionals.(Brief article)
July 13, 2006... CM's new series brings you alternative views from experts who are allied to road transport. This week Maxine Raphael, of Maxine Raphael Specialist Transport, ponders the problems of finding truly professional drivers. Based in the South of...

Incentives for Euro-5 are not our top priority.
July 13, 2006... Your comment piece headed 'There aren't any easy answers' (CM 22 June) invited comments on the case for financial incentives to encourage the early take-up of Euro-5 vehicles - something that the RHA and FTA called for in our joint Budget...

Initial MoT pass rate was 0%.(Ministry of Transport test, S and A Haulage of Crewe banned for 10 years)
July 13, 2006... A firm disqualified and banned for 10 years owed more than [pounds sterling]90,000 to Customs in back duty for the illegal use of rebated red diesel. false paperwork, the use of red diesel and 0% first-time pass rate at annual test have...

Lack of O-licence and unlicensed driver cost London firm [pounds sterling]3,000.(Vehicle and Operator Services Agency fines First Choice Fabricators )(Brief article)
July 13, 2006... A South LONDON company has been fined [pounds sterling]3,000 for using a vehicle without an O-licence and permitting it to be driven by a driver holding the wrong licence. First Choice Fabricators of the Railway Yard, London SW16,...

Multiple offender escapes revocation.(JP Construction's fleet maintenance investigations)(Brief article)
July 13, 2006... A firm WITH 14 prohibitions in five years took urgent steps to save its 11-vehicle licence before appearing at a public inquiry. As a result, it escaped with a warning, following a series of undertakings. Billy and Michael Parker, trading...

SDC retails ex-BT vans.(SDC Northern enters used van business)(Brief article)
July 13, 2006... Trailer dealer SDC Northern has moved into the used van business. It is retailing ex-BT light commercials from a site at Scotch Corner, North Yorks. "It came about because we successfully disposed of 150 curtainsider trailers for the...

The truth about ADR regulations.
July 13, 2006... I write in response to a recent CM competition (CM 29 June). My observations are as follows: The Carriage of Dangerous Goods and Use of Transportable Pressure Equipment Regulations 2004 (CDGUTPER 2004) (as amended) does not have a...